FAA Fines Man for Security Breach

Published 8:00 pm, Monday, January 7, 2002

The Federal Aviation Administration has fined a man $3,300 for a security breach at Atlanta's airport that temporarily shut down the airport.

The FAA found that Michael Lasseter, 32, of Gainesville, violated security regulations when he ran past two security guards and down an up-escalator at Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport on Nov. 16.

Lasseter told police he had left the airport's secure area to retrieve a camera bag and wanted to get back to his young son, whom he had left with an uncle at an airline gate.

The fine is the maximum allowable under FAA regulations, spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said Tuesday. She said Lasseter can appeal the fine to an administrative law judge.

Lasseter's lawyer, Robert Lipman, said he was unaware of the fine, but questioned the FAA's right to impose the penalty.